Blast at Congress HQ in Guwahati

Guwahati: A powerful blast ripped the state head quarter of the Congress in Guwahati on Monday evening at around 6.50 p.m. At least five leaders of the ruling Congress Party were injured.

It has been linked to the anti-talk faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), led by Paresh Baruah. Only a day ago, Baruah had offered conditions to the talks between the Government of India and the ULFA, according to local media. He called local media offices to take responsibility.

The blast was initially thought to be triggered by grenade. But later it was found that it was hidden in a garbage bin inside the HQ. The office building has been considerably damaged by its impact.

Those injured included Akshay Rajkhow, Mehdi Alam Bora, Congress spokesperson and Ranjan Bora, party general secretary. The blast is seen in the region as reminder to the Central Government before the assembly elections of ‘peace talks’ which appear to be sidelines in recent weeks.

In another incident eight BSF troopers were killed and five injured when their bus was targeted by Bodoland activists in Kokrajhar in Assam.

Tarun Gagoi, the Chief Minister of Assam, described it as a “cowardly act” and said that the Congress would not be cowed down by the hardliners. He told journalists, after the blast: “Threats to our leaders and workers by ULFA is nothing new. Let me make it very clear that we shall never be cowed down by such threats of attacks on our lives,”

Paresh Baruah has accused the Congress of splitting the ULFA and described the negotiation as ‘unconstitutional’.